Two cyclometalated Pt(ii) complexes showing reversible phosphorescence switching due to grinding-induced destruction and crystallization-induced formation of supramolecular dimer structure

Two Pt(ii) complexes 1 and 2 reveal similar supramolecular dimer structure, in which two [Pt(dfppy/ppy)(pbdtmi)]+ cations connect each other through the π⋯π stacking interaction. Thus these complexes show reversible phosphorescence switching by grinding and crystallization with toluene.

Pyridinedicarboxylate-Tb(III) Complex-Based Luminescent Probes for ATP Monitoring

The pyridinedicarboxylate-Tb(III) complexes, TbPDC and Tb(PDC)3, as luminescent probes for ATP monitoring have been conveniently prepared and characterized by FT-IR, 1H-NMR, ESI-MS, UV-Vis, excitation, and emission spectroscopy. Interestingly, these two Tb(III) complexes were quenched by ATP by a similar mechanism via π-π stacking interaction between the chelating ligand and adenine moiety. The ability of luminescent probes applied for the determination of ATP in aqueous solution has been investigated. The dynamic ranges for the quantification of ATP are within 10−90 μM and 10−100 μM with detection limits of 7.62 and 11.20 μM for TbPDC and Tb(PDC)3, respectively. The results demonstrated that these luminescent probes would be a potential candidate assay for ATP monitoring in hygiene assessment.

The Face-to-Face σ-Hole···σ-Hole Stacking Interactions: Structures, Energies, and Nature

The existence of the π···π stacking interaction is well-known. Similarly, it is reasonable to assume the existence of the σ-hole···σ-hole stacking interaction. In this work, the structures, energies, and nature of the face-to-face σ-hole···σ-hole stacking interactions in the crystal structures have been investigated in detail by the quantum chemical calculations. The calculated results clearly show that the face-to-face σ-hole···σ-hole stacking interactions exist and have unique properties, although their strengths are not very significant. The energy component analysis reveals that, unlike many other dispersion-dominated noncovalent interactions in which the induction energies always play minor roles for their stabilities, for the face-to-face σ-hole···σ-hole stacking interaction the contribution of the induction energy to the total attractive energy is close to or even larger than that of the electrostatic energy. The structures, energies, and nature of the face-to-face σ-hole···σ-hole stacking interactions confined in small spaces have also been theoretically simulated. One of the important findings is that encapsulation of the complex bound by the face-to-face σ-hole···σ-hole stacking interaction can tune the electronic properties of the container.

The crystal structures of three disordered 2-substituted benzimidazole esters

The crystal structures of three benzimidazole esters containing aryl or heterocyclic substituents at position 2 are reported, and all three exhibit disorder of molecular entities. In ethyl 1-methyl-2-[4-(prop-2-ynoxy)phenyl]-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylate, C20H18N2O3, (I), the prop-2-yn-1-oxyphenyl unit is disordered over two sets of atomic sites having effectively equal occupancies, 0.506 (5) and 0.494 (5). The propyl substituent in ethyl 1-propyl-2-(pyren-1-yl)-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylate, C29H24N2O2, (II), is disordered over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies 0.601 (8) and 0.399 (8), and the ester unit in ethyl 1-methyl-2-(5-chloro-3-methyl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)-1H-benzimidazole-5-carboxylate, C21H19ClN4O2 (III), is disordered over two sets of atomic sites having occupancies 0.645 (7) and 0.355 (7). In each of the C—H...π(arene) hydrogen bonds in (I), the donor and acceptor form parts of different disorder components, so that no continuous aggregation is possible. The molecules of (II) are linked by a single C—H...O hydrogen bond into C(10) chains, which are linked into sheets by a π–π stacking interaction, whereas those of (III) are just linked into C(13) chains, again by a single C—H...O hydrogen bond. Comparisons are made with the structures of some related compounds.

Thermal Stability Changes in Telomeric G-Quadruplex Structures Due to N6-Methyladenine Modification

N6-methyladenine modification (m6dA) has recently been identified in eukaryote genomic DNA. The methylation destabilizes the duplex structure when the adenine forms a Watson–Crick base pair, whereas the methylation on a terminal unpaired adenine stabilizes the duplex structure by increasing the stacking interaction. In this study, the effects of m6dA modification on the thermal stability of four distinct telomeric G-quadruplex (G4) structures were investigated. The m6dA-modified telomeric oligonucleotide d[AGGG(TTAGGG)3] that forms a basket-type G4 in Na+, d[(TTAGGG)4TT] that forms a hybrid-type G4 in K+ (Form-2), d[AAAGGG(TTAGGG)3AA] that forms a hybrid-type G4 in K+ (Form-1), and d[GGG(TTAGGG)3T] that forms a basket-type G4 with two G-tetrads in K+ (Form-3) were analyzed. Circular dichroism melting analysis demonstrated that (1) A7- and A19-methylation destabilized the basket-type G4 structure that formed in Na+, whereas A13-methylation stabilized the structure; (2) A15-methylation stabilized the Form-2 G4 structure; (3) A15- and A21-methylations stabilized the Form-1 G4 structure; and (4) A12-methylation stabilized the Form-3 G4 structure. These results suggest that m6dA modifications may affect the thermal stability of human telomeric G4 structures in regulating the biological functions.

A Cd(ii) and Zn(ii) selective naphthyl based [2]rotaxane acts as an exclusive Zn(ii) sensor upon further functionalization with pyrene

A new pyrene derived multi-functional [2]rotaxane is synthesized using click chemistry via Ni2+ templating and π–π stacking interaction and it acts as a selectively responsive sensor for Zn2+ ions.